Chapter 831: The Fiend, Still Haven't Paid Respects to the Patriarch

Hearing the sound, Zhang Xuan instinctively turned his head, and was immediately taken aback.

It was none other than Zheng Yang, Wang Ying, and a few others.

Weren't these youngsters cultivating outside the academy? When did they get here?

It was one thing for them to be here, but with so many people, how did they sneak in unnoticed?

Zhang Xuan was full of questions, but Lu Feng, standing opposite, was equally surprised. He hadn't expected these individuals to approach him with such a question. After a brief pause, he smiled faintly, "I've heard Dean Xu speak of the three of you. Though young, your understanding of martial arts and cultivation is profound, moving from the simple to the complex, directly grasping the essence of the Grand Dao… you are truly geniuses among geniuses. To earn Dean Xu's respect speaks volumes about your capabilities!"

"Since you are guest elders of the Combat Techniques Academy and also elders of the Master Teacher Academy, you are naturally my peers!"

The status of a guest elder is even higher than that of a regular elder.

Though he was a dean, his rank was equivalent to that of an elder. This meant that despite any age difference, he was, in effect, their peer.

"Being peers is good then!"

Zheng Yang and the others nodded, then turned to face Zhang Xuan, who was standing nearby. They collectively walked up to him and knelt, saying, "Student Zheng Yang (Wang Ying, Liu Yang) greets Teacher!"

"Huh?"

"The three newly appointed guest elders of the Combat Techniques Academy are actually... Master Zhang Xuan's students?"

"If Master Zhang's students are peers with Dean Lu Feng, then... wouldn't Dean Lu be a generation lower?"

"What exactly is going on here?"

At this, not only were the senior students stunned, but many of the academy's teachers, elders, and even deans were frozen in disbelief.

Many were aware that the Combat Techniques Academy had hired guest elders, and quite a few had attended their lectures. Though young, these three individuals had an incredibly profound grasp of cultivation, earning immense admiration.

Their appointment as elders was indeed well-deserved.

They had assumed that such a thorough understanding of cultivation must stem from the lineage of some reclusive grand master. Never in their wildest dreams did they imagine... their teacher was Zhang Xuan!

He was still a freshman... yet his own students had become elders of the academy...

What exactly was happening?

While others were merely shocked, Dean Lu Feng on the stage truly lived up to his name—he was about to explode.

He had just arrogantly declared that if Zhang Xuan's seniority was higher, he could freely admonish him. And then... these three individuals appeared.

If the elders were his peers, and Zhang Xuan was the guest elders' teacher, then wouldn't he have to address Zhang Xuan as... 'Uncle'?

His face turned ashen. He felt a suffocating pressure in his chest, and Lu Feng could barely breathe.

What kind of situation was this!

Had he known, he never would have declared these three to be his peers... Now, he had truly shot himself in the foot, making it difficult to refuse.

His face was a shade of purple. After a moment of holding his breath, he finally spoke, "While Zhang Xuan may be your teacher, he is still a student of this academy..."

"Since he is a student, he must surely have a teacher. So, Dean Lu, I'd like to ask, who did my teacher apprentice under?" Zheng Yang asked, looking directly at him.

Lu Feng's expression froze.

Zhang Xuan had been causing quite a stir lately, and Lu Feng had naturally inquired about him. He knew that Zhang Xuan had collapsed upon arrival at the academy and hadn't formally apprenticed under anyone!

In other words... he had entered the academy, but he hadn't acknowledged any master.

"He hasn't..." Lu Feng's face was grim as he shook his head.

"Then does my teacher possess a student ID card?" Zheng Yang pressed on.

Lu Feng paused once more.

A student ID card could only be obtained after formally apprenticing. While unapprenticed students could attend general lectures, the process of acquiring an ID involved multiple departments and was complicated, typically taking at least a week or two after the start of term.

It had only been five or six days since classes began... so it was naturally impossible for him to have one!

"Since he possesses neither a student ID nor an acknowledged master, why do you claim he is a student of your Master Teacher Academy? What evidence do you have?" Zheng Yang pressed further.

Lu Feng was left speechless.

The man didn't even have a student ID, much less an acknowledged master; in other words, he had no official student status. Without student status, how could he be called a student?

He wasn't a student, yet he was the teacher of a guest elder, making his seniority higher than Lu Feng's. To obstruct him would be an act of great disrespect, an insult to a senior!

"Although he doesn't have a student ID, he resides within the academy and has even established an association..."

This fellow has been at the academy for less than six days, yet he's already caused two collapses and countless disturbances. Now, he's telling me he's not a student... What exactly is going on?

If he wasn't a student, he would have been expelled ages ago. How could such recklessness be tolerated?

"Alright, Nephew Lu Feng," Zhang Xuan interjected, "I reside in the academy with Dean Mi's token, and the establishment of the association is simply due to the goodwill of countless new students. There's no need to get so worked up!"

Zhang Xuan continued, "I understand your obstruction is for the academy's good, and I don't blame you. However, this You Xu lost the duel, and I still intend to take him. As a junior, you shouldn't argue further!"

"Nephew...?"

Hearing Zhang Xuan's patronizing tone, Dean Lu Feng nearly fainted on the spot.

He had presented him with an opening, hoping he would de-escalate. Instead, Zhang Xuan had brazenly claimed even higher seniority, as if he were already a dean ready to command the world!

"Elder Zheng and Elder Wang are actually... Master Zhang's students?"

Zhao Bingxu, Dean Mi, and the others were all equally bewildered.

They had assumed that with Dean Lu Feng's intervention, You Xu would surely be rescued. Never in their wildest dreams did they expect three guest elders to appear out of nowhere!

What was even more astounding was that Zhang Xuan had directly addressed Dean Lu Feng as 'nephew'... By that logic, wouldn't they all be considered his juniors too?

"Enough with this talk of seniority!" Lu Feng huffed, knowing that continuing this conversation would only drag him deeper into a trap from which he couldn't escape. "No matter what, you are still only a four-star master teacher. No matter what fancy words you come up with today, you won't be taking anyone away..."

Every cultivator's path to apprenticeship differs based on their physique and talent. If one were to argue solely on such terms, there would be 'masters' everywhere.

"Alright, Dean Lu Feng," a calm voice interjected before Lu Feng could continue. "As a dignified master teacher and the acting dean of this academy, how can you keep bickering like this? What sort of decorum is this?"

Looking up, they saw a figure, graceful as an orchid, descending.

Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up.

It was none other than Luo Ruoxi, the beautiful teacher who had captivated him from their very first encounter.

"Master Luo!"

Upon seeing her, Dean Lu Feng quickly turned and clasped his hands in greeting. "This matter concerns the dignity of the Master Teacher Academy. If we allow an outsider to take away our vice dean, how will we explain ourselves to the Master Teacher Pavilion in the future?"

Luo Ruoxi's elegant brows furrowed, and she waved a dismissive hand. "How to explain to the Master Teacher Pavilion is something Mu Yuan will handle himself; you needn't trouble yourself with it."

"This... Yes, Master!"

Though his face was grim, Dean Lu Feng still nodded.

Although Master Luo was young, she was very likely a member of the Saint Clan's Luo family. Even Master Mu Yuan treated her with exceptional deference, like an attendant. Lu Feng dared not speak another word.

Seeing that Lu Feng had nothing more to say, Luo Ruoxi then turned her gaze to Zhang Xuan, who was standing nearby. "Have you... already comprehended the Eye of Insight?"

Zhang Xuan was surprised by her question. After a brief pause, he didn't hide it. "I suppose so!"

He had used it during his life-and-death medical duel with You Xu earlier, so it was likely discovered then.

"The Eye of Insight, which only six-star master teachers can comprehend?"

"It's said that even the most gifted prodigies of the Saint Clans can't comprehend it, yet Master Zhang possesses it?"

"With such a talent, as long as he doesn't meet an untimely end, he will at least achieve the rank of an eight-star master teacher..."

"Indeed. Historical records show only ten geniuses who have comprehended the Eye of Insight. Of those, six achieved nine-star, two met their demise, and one, due to severe injuries, could no longer progress in cultivation but still reached the eight-star level. Another disappeared after passing the seven-star assessment... It's rumored he fought against the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe, unleashing the power of a nine-star master teacher before his death. Since he didn't complete the Master Teacher Pavilion's assessment, the specifics are unknown! However, one thing is certain: anyone who comprehends this talent is guaranteed to achieve at least eight-star in the future!"

"That's terrifying..."

Hearing Zhang Xuan's admission, a wave of commotion swept through the crowd.

The Eye of Insight, while theoretically attainable by six-star master teachers, is truly activated by an exceptionally small number of individuals.

Even in the comprehensive records of the Master Teacher Pavilion, those who possess it are few and far between.

This Zhang Xuan had actually comprehended it... No wonder he displayed extraordinary abilities in artifact forging, movement techniques, and even medical skills.

Such talent is rare even among the Saint Clans.

"The Eye of Insight?"

Dean Lu Feng's body swayed, further startled.

Many senior students in the audience were aware of this talent's power; how could he not be?

It was safe to say his future achievements would be immeasurable.

Was it truly worth offending such a super genius for the sake of this You Xu, who seemed determined to bring about his own demise?

No wonder Master Luo stepped forward to intervene on his behalf. With such a talent, his future achievements were limitless. Even the Saint Clans would seek to befriend him rather than risk offending him.

"Indeed!"

Nodding, Luo Ruoxi's graceful form flickered, descending from the high platform. Zhang Xuan was puzzled; had she only come to stop Lu Feng just to ask that single question? Then, he heard the girl's faint voice whisper in his ear.

"I'll come find you tonight!"

With that, her lithe figure blended into the crowd, twisting a few times before vanishing from sight.

"Find me?"

With his abilities, he could usually see through anyone, but this girl remained shrouded in mystery.

"Never mind!"

He knew that whatever she wanted, he would find out tonight, so there was no point dwelling on it. Zhang Xuan dismissed the thought.

With Luo Ruoxi's intervention, Lu Feng no longer obstructed. He instructed Zheng Yang and the others to take You Xu, who was already half-dead from the 'poison,' off the stage.

Knowing that this fellow had caused even Dean Lu Feng to lose face, the senior students in the audience quickly cleared a path.

Realizing the sheer scale of the disturbance he had caused, Zhang Xuan couldn't help but shake his head, feeling a pang of disappointment. It seemed it would be difficult for him to return to the Master Teacher Academy anytime soon.

Of the ten major academies, he had only challenged the fields of artifact forging, movement techniques, and medicine. There were still seven he hadn't visited. Leaving now felt like a significant loss.

"It seems that if I ever return to the academy, I'll only be able to do so by challenging them..."

Without student status, academic credits, or a student ID card, he wouldn't be able to freely enter and exit for studies, much less take examinations without trouble.

To achieve six-star in an auxiliary profession, there was only one method left: challenge!

For example, if he wished to be assessed as an alchemist, he could simply challenge the entire academy. As long as no one could surpass him, he would naturally obtain the six-star emblem.

"I just want to take an exam peacefully, why is it so difficult?"

Considering that a challenge would undoubtedly cause immense upheaval and throw the entire Master Teacher Academy into chaos, Zhang Xuan couldn't help but shake his head.

Honestly, all he wanted was to be a student, to study peacefully and take exams without disturbance. Yet, this acting dean had prevented it, stripping him of his right to be a student!

Very well then. He would go back and rest for a few days, and then proceed to challenge each academy one by one.

While he was at it, he would also refine his auxiliary professions, preparing for the six-star master teacher assessment.

Lost in thought, he strode out. He hadn't gone far when a young man with a spear, his face alight with excitement, rushed over and blocked his path.

"I've finally broken through the tenth level of the Falling Leaf Spear Art, achieving the unity of man and spear!" the youth exclaimed. "Zhang Xuan, I want to challenge you! Do you dare to accept?"

The young man's long spear trembled, emitting a roar like a dragon or a tiger, imbued with a fierce, unmatched aura.

It was none other than Xue Zhenyang.

After attending Zheng Yang's lecture yesterday, he had been in seclusion, and just moments ago, he had finally broken through his limitations.

Upon hearing Zhang Xuan was nearby, he immediately rushed over.

With his spear art breakthrough, he intended to erase his past humiliation and restore the reputation of the True Yang Association!

Just as the youth finished his declaration, before Zhang Xuan could even respond, he felt a sharp slap on the back of his head.

He quickly turned to see Teacher Zheng Yang glaring at him with a grim, displeased expression. "You brute! Why aren't you greeting your grand-teacher?"